What are shutters?
Shutters have a solid frame made of wood or polyvinyl that fits the frame of the window. Within this frame are doors that have louvres running horizontally which can be tilted to adjust the amount of light entering the room. These louvres come in a range of widths from a more traditional smaller louvre of 63mm to a more contemporary larger louvre of 114mm. Solid panels are available too. Magnets are placed within the door frames ( not visible) to help keep the shutters in their closed position.
The louvres are tilted using a tilt rod which is vertical piece of wood that links the louvres together allowing them to be opened and closed simultaneously. The tilt rod is traditionally located in the centre but can be offset if required. If you don't fancy a visible tilt rod, you can choose a 'clear view' tilt rod which is an aluminium rod attached to the back of the louvre. To adjust these you simply tilt any one of the louvre and the rest will adjust with it.
Why we love them:
-Perfectly safe for children because they have no operational cords.
-They can improve the insulation in the room from both heat and cold which, in turn, reduces your heating costs.
-They fit the window exactly so light can not creep in from the sides like with some other blinds and curtains.
-They look as good externally as they do internally.
-Added security on hot days when you want to keep the window open but your windows secure.
-They come with a 36 month warranty (excluding general wear and tear).
Shutter styles:
Full height:
These cover the whole window and can be used for both windows and doors.
Cafe style:
These cover the lower portion of the window only leaving space at the top for maximum light. This is perfect for rooms where privacy is more important than light reduction.
Solid:
These cover the whole window with a solid piece of wood, there are no louvres so light level control is limited to either fully open or fully closed.
You can also opt for half solid shutter where the bottom half is solid and the top half is with louvres.
Tier on tier:
These shutters are split in two so the top and bottom sections can be opened independently of each other. Each section can have louvres or be solid.
This is the most versatile shutter for controlling light levels and privacy.
Materials:
All wood is ethically sourced and receives FSC certification.
Hybrawood
This is a combination of solid wood and polyvinyl materials making it the most affordable option. The outer frame is made from solid hardwood with the louvres being made of polyvinyl with an aluminium core. This is an extremely durable material meaning your shutters will show less dinks and will resist damage over time, the quality is high and the shutters are almost impossible to break!
Paulownia
A light weight but very strong and durable wood. It is a hardwood but it is approximately 1/3 lighter in weight than other hardwoods making it perfect for Tier on Tier shutters. We love it for its environmental positives though, it is a deep rooted tree with a well developed root system allowing it to yield one cubic meter of hardwood in 8 years after which a new stem will grow. This means a single plantation can be harvested several times providing a sustainable and renewable source of timber.
Bass wood
This is the strong, all rounder material. Due to its light weight it can fit into any window, even the largest.
Ashwood
The premium material on offer. Ashwood has a deep textured grain which gives a more sophisticated natural wood look.
Alumnium core Polyvinyl.
These are the shutters you need for rooms with high humidity and water levels such as kitchens and bathrooms because they are 100% waterproof. Made from a tough polyvinyl, they will not warp, fade or peel over time as the solid wood options would in these situations being permeable to water.
They are painted with the same PU paint that is used on the solid wood shutters giving an identical look.
Our shutters are made in China and therefore will take longer to arrive with us. Fitting dates are usually 10-12 weeks after the order date.
Cleaning your shutters:
Dust each slat with a microfibre cloth or a feather duster. Do not use polish because this may damage the wood. Dust one side of the louvre first and then tilt them the other way and dust the other side.
Slatted blind cleaners are available or you could use cloths on cooking tongs as a homemade cleaning cheat! (See our venetian blind blog post for more information)
You can hoover your shutter but we would advise using a soft brush nozzle, hard nozzles may leave marks on the blinds especially lighter colours.
For heavier stains, take a slightly damp cloth and wipe the stained area. With solid wood shutters you must dry it immediately afterwards to prevent any water penetrating the wood. If you have the polyvinyl shutters you can use a wetter cloth, they are waterproof so water penetration is not an issue.
If you are interested in shutters for your home or work place, get in touch to arrange a free, no obligation measuring and consultation appointment.
07765490783
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